Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

• porções: 18 bars
• tempo total: 2 hours

Ingredientes

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

⅓ cup dark brown sugar

¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons honey

1 cup peanut butter

1½ teaspoons vanilla extract

Heaping ⅛ teaspoon salt

2 cups quick-cooking/instant oats, such as Quaker Quick 1-Minute Oats (do not use regular old-fashioned oats)

1¾ cups crispy rice cereal, such as Rice Krispies

½ cup sliced almonds

¼ cup flax meal or wheat germ

⅓ cup mini chocolate chips (or to taste)

Instruções

Line a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with aluminum foil. Spray the foil lightly with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large pot, combine the butter, brown sugar, peanut butter and honey. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Lower the heat and simmer until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla and salt.

Add the oats, rice cereal, almonds and flax meal (or wheat germ) to the pan and fold with a rubber spatula until well combined.

Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and press down lightly with a rubber spatula to even out. Sprinkle the miniature chocolate chips over top, adding more or less to suit your taste, and press down firmly with the spatula so the chips stick.The mixture should be tightly compacted in the pan. Place the pan in the refrigerator for 1½ - 2 hours to cool.

Use the foil overhang to transfer the uncut bars to a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, cut into rectangles. Store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If you have to stack them, be sure to use parchment paper or foil in between the layers, otherwise they'll stick together and fall apart.

Note: If you are substituting dried fruit for the chocolate chips, mix it in along with the other ingredients as opposed to sprinkling over top.

Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The granola bars can be frozen for up to 3 months. Let them cool completely and store in an airtight container separating layers with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Before serving, move them to the refrigerator and store there.

Nutrição

• Tamanho da Porção: 1 bar
• Calorias: 187
• Gordura Total: 8g
• Gordura Saturada: 3g
• Colesterol: 11mg
• Sódio: 21mg
• Carboidrato Total: 26g
• Fibra Dietética: 3g
• Açúcares Totais: 12g
• Proteína: 4g